Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has directed a review of the salary structure for the new National Minimum Wage to address errors observed in the consequential adjustments.
Otti gave the directive on Tuesday during a crucial meeting with the leadership of the NLC and TUC, along with affiliate bodies in the state, led by NLC Chairman, Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro.
The governor acknowledged reports of discrepancies in the payment of the minimum wage, which the state began implementing in October, and assured that his government would engage with the Organised Labour leadership in the coming days to rectify any issues.
“I have instructed my people to go and look at it again. In the next few days, we will be engaging with the leadership of the Labour Party so that we can make necessary adjustments. So, my team will go back and look into it,” Otti said.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the inclusion of Abia State on the list of states yet to implement the new National Minimum Wage, emphasising that Abia was among the first to implement the policy in October 2024.
Otti also announced plans to pay both December 2024 salaries and 13th-month bonuses to workers before December 20, 2024, assuring Organised Labour members that his administration is committed to their welfare.
The governor criticised the attitude of some Abia pensioners, who, despite receiving arrears in line with agreements, accused the government of deception.
He noted that his administration inherited unpaid pension arrears dating back to 2014 and has since cleared them.
He also highlighted that pensioners have been receiving full payments on the 28th of each month since April and thanked the Concerned Abia Pensioners for their support.
“The first time I met with the NUP leadership, they were clear to me to say that what was important to them was to get the government to commit to paying them 100 per cent of their pension from that month and forget about the arrears, and I felt it was not fair,” Otti said.
Describing the Abia workforce as a key factor in his electoral success, the governor expressed gratitude for their support in his administration’s efforts to rebuild the state.
He emphasised that the meeting aimed to foster interaction with the workforce and acknowledge their contributions to the state’s transformation.
In response, Comrade Ogbonnaya Okoro, the NLC Chairman, thanked the governor for his commitment to the welfare of workers and the decision to correct the observed errors in salary payments. He added that the union would present other concerns to the governor at a later date.
He assured Governor Otti of the workers’ continued support to ensure his success in office.
The meeting, which drew numerous government officials, also had the chairmen and secretaries of affiliate unions of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), the Trade Union Congress (TUC), and the Joint Negotiating Council in attendance.
During the session, participants expressed satisfaction and confidence in the governor and his administration.
They pledged ongoing support and partnership, noting that Abia workers have never been better treated.
They commended Governor Otti as a listening and worker-friendly leader.
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